European Gold jewellery demand falls during Q4 2018

LONDON (Scrap Register): European Gold jewellery demand was fractionally lower on an annual basis, down 1% to 73.4 tons (t), according to the World Gold Council.

Gold jewellery demand during the fourth quarter slipped 2% to 33.5t – the lowest Q4 in WGC data series – as consumers became more cautious. The UK saw the biggest Q4 decline, with demand overshadowed by ongoing Brexit chaos.

Italy and France, each beset by political turmoil, were similarly weak. Germany and Spain were more robust: both markets saw modest gains in Q4 and full-year 2018, although growth in these small markets was insufficient to offset weakness elsewhere in the region.